Saturday, December 31, 2011

I’m so excited to share some great news with you. Today, December 31, 2011, I am the featured Inspirational Luminary on InspireMeToday.com, sharing my wisdom with the world.

This free web site is one to bookmark! Inspire Me Today features the “Brilliance” of a new Luminary every day. You can start your day with the wisdom of Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Neale Donald Walsch, Marci Shimoff or one of hundreds more, now including me. I’m so honored to be with such esteemed company!

To help you stay inspired, you can sign up to receive this 3-minute “Today’s Brilliance” pick-me-up each day by email, by RSS feed or as an iPhone app. You can even subscribe to it on the new Google Currents.

Please visit the site today, December 31, 2011, and help me inspire the world. If my traffic and comments break records, InspireMeToday.com will share my content with millions of additional people too! I hope you’ll check it out, leave a comment and share it with your friends. From the folks at Inspire Me Today and from me, thank you in advance for your kind support. I know you’re going to love InspireMeToday.com! Together, we really can inspire the world.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Change is said to be the only constant in life, and the more we make peace with it, the better off we'll be. It's a theme of one of this year's most critically acclaimed films, too, a subject I write about in my latest VividLife post, 'The Artist' explores the need to evolve, now available by clicking here. And to find out more about the film, visit the picture's official web site.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Transformation is a goal for many of us, and there are many routes to get there, both conventional and unconventional. Find out more about both in Personal growth takes center stage in 'A Dangerous Method', my latest post at VividLife.me.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Want to work a little magic in your life? There's an excellent movie out that offers a lot of inspiration on this. Read more about it in my latest VividLife review, Magic comes to life in 'Hugo', available by clicking here.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Letting your genuine self shine through can pay major benefits. Read more about this in 'My Week with Marilyn' spotlights the rewards of 'being real', my latest VividLife review, available at www.VividLife.me.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Living in the moment can bring tremendous delight to one's life -- and answers to its big challenges, a major theme of the new Hawaii-based comedy-drama, "The Descendants." Read more about in my latest VividLife review, 'Descendants' seeks solutions to trouble in paradise, available at VividLife.me.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

What lies ahead for mankind's future? That's a question wide open for speculation these days, with predictions ranging from glorious enlightenment to utter degradation. And then there are those whose prognostications are truly visionary, such as those of inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil, subject of the engaging documentary "Transcendent Man: The Life and Ideas of Ray Kurzweil," now available on DVD.

While Kurzweil may not be a household name, his impact on modern society has been significant nonetheless. He holds 24 patents, having invented devices as diverse as optical readers for the blind and various types of synthesizer equipment. He's also author of the best-selling book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, a treatise that maintains we must become bionic beings in order to keep up with the ever-accelerating rate of change. Such unconventional views have earned him labels ranging from "the best in the world at predicting the future," according to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, to a "highly sophisticated crackpot," in the eyes of others. But no matter what opinion one holds, Kurzweil is a captivating figure, and this documentary provides an intriguing look at his life and cutting edge ideas.

In moving forward, Kurzweil contends that we will be profoundly affected by developments in three key areas -- robotics, genetics and nanotechnology. He believes that advances in these disciplines will ultimately lead to a greater fusion of biology and technology, an occurrence that he sees as both necessary -- and inevitable -- to our future. This controversial vision has staggering implications, both positive and negative, in terms of potential, logistics and ethics, yet Kurzweil maintains that such a synthesis will become essential to us just being able to keep up. Such views have drawn both supporters and detractors, and insights from both contingents are presented in the film, offering a balanced, comprehensive approach to the subject.

In addition to Kurzweil's singular outlook, the documentary profiles its subject's personal life. We see the profound influence of Kurzweil's father, a talented musician who died at a comparatively young age. We learn of Kurzweil's health concerns, which impelled him to make significant changes in his life, most notably the focus of his work and the pace at which he worked toward realizing his goals. And we also get glimpses into his hyperconnected networking circle, which includes an array of technological, political and artistic luminaries, such as Colin Powell, William Shatner and Stevie Wonder, all of whom are featured in the film.

Given his accomplishments, it's apparent that Kurzweil is indeed a skilled conscious creator. Ironically, however, many of his views of how things manifest seem to run counter to the way this philosophy works, that materializations eventually spawn consciousness (something he believes will ultimately happen with computers) rather than the other way around. This, of course, begs the question, would such creations materialize in the first place were it not for the consciousness that envisioned them to begin with? Quite curious, to be sure.

The DVD's bonus materials effectively complement the main feature, providing intriguing supplementary viewing. For those who speculate about the nature of our species' future, this is definitely a must-see.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Isn't it great when everything comes together perfectly at just the right moment? That's the power of synchronicity at work, the subject of my latest FengSHe post, When Timing Is Everything. Read more at www.FengShe.org.

How would you cope with the end of the world if you knew it was coming? That's a key theme probed in the new science fiction fantasy, "Melancholia." See my review, Life and death collide in murky 'Melancholia', now available at VividLife.me.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Is political reform really possible? Not if the metaphysics supporting it are off. To find out what I mean, read my latest VividLife movie review, 'Ides of March' critically surveys the political landscape, by clicking here.

George Harrison lived in two worlds, one being the everyday reality of physical existence with which we're all familiar, a world in which he attained great notoriety as a musician, film producer and activist, and the other being the world of spirit, the ethereal realm wherein we seek to discover our place in the Universe and our relationship to the Divine, a world in which George engaged in a perpetual quest for meaning. It made for a very full life, one that he savored in all its aspects, as is apparent in director Martin Scorsese's new two-part HBO documentary, "George Harrison: Living in the Material World."

Scorsese's take on Harrison's life shows him to be more than just the former Beatle who pursued a solo career in his years after the Fab Four. In fact, the director portrays his subject as being someone who lived a very rich, varied, sometimes-contradictory life, one that was just as much about preparing for what comes after this incarnation as it was about experiencing what was going on at the moment. This balanced approach portrays Harrison as more than just a celebrity and pop musician; it shows him as one who goes through all of the questing that we each do as both physical and spiritual beings.

In many respects, Scorsese paints a picture of Harrison that goes beyond the sort of standard biographical information one might find in fare like VH-1's Behind the Music series. He assumes viewers already know a lot of that and, instead, provides us with a very personal look at the George many of us probably know little about. We see glimpses of his personal life that received little attention, such as his early upbringing and his relationships with wives Olivia and Pattie Boyd. We learn about his many friendships with people as diverse as Formula One racing champion Jackie Stewart, Monty Python regulars Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam and, of course, an array of musicians, including everyone from Bob Dylan to Roy Orbison. And, of course, there's the complicated role he played as a member of the Beatles, one where he sometimes served as the glue that kept the group together and one where he sometimes railed over more of his songs not making it onto the group's albums.

But, perhaps even more importantly, Scorsese provides an in-depth look at George's spiritual search, an aspect of his life that received little fanfare but was just as significant to him as anything he did in a recording studio. His experimentation with psychedelic drugs, transcendental meditation and Eastern religion all contributed to his search for meaning, something that played a huge role in his life and that he strongly believed was essential to his preparation for his eventual transition from the material world. This aspect of the film truly brings forth Harrison's multidimensional nature, a quality we all share but rarely get to see exemplified as well as we do here.

The documentary, organized more or less chronologically, features a wealth of archival footage, some of it quite rare, intercut with audio clips of George's recordings with the Beatles, from his solo career, from his collaborations with sitarist Ravi Shankar and in his participation as a member of super-group the Traveling Wilburys. There are also clips from numerous interviews with Harrison throughout his career, as well as segments from new interviews with former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, musician buddies Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and Ravi Shankar, producer Phil Spector, and family members, including son Dhani and wives Olivia and Pattie.

As revelatory and enlightening as this film is, however, it does have its drawbacks. Some significant events from Harrison's life are completely overlooked, such as the copyright infringement lawsuit brought against him over his hit My Sweet Lord, as well as the success of his solo career in much of the 1970s and '80s, including his highly acclaimed album Cloud Nine released in 1987. The editing leaves much to be desired at times, too, with some segments flowing rather aimlessly from one to the next and some audio clips being inexplicably cut off abruptly. But, even with these shortcomings, the documentary has much to offer about its subject, presenting Harrison's life story in a captivating way.

While watching this film, it's amazing to realize just how much incredible music this one individual produced during an all-too-short lifetime. But, when one considers how this accomplishment was only one among many in the life of an extraordinarily gifted human being, it's heartening to see just how much we as human beings are truly capable of. George left us with a lot during his time on earth, and "Living in the Material World" does a fine job of putting it on display, inspiring us to the ways of a remarkable individual.

Monday, October 17, 2011

No matter what your spiritual or philosophical leanings, at some point we all grapple with our trust in our beliefs, a notion explored by way of example in the new spiritual drama, "Higher Ground." See my review, Faith gets tested in 'Higher Ground,' available by clicking here.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Living an authentic life can be a challenge, especially for national heroes in a very exposed fishbowl. Such is the fate of the protagonists in the new spy thriller, "The Debt." Read more about it in my latest VividLife post, 'The Debt' probes integrity, authenticity, available by clicking here. And find out more about the movie by clicking here.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Get smart this Tuesday, September 13, when I'll be a guest on Smart Women Talk Radio with hosts Katana Abbott and Vicky Trabosh. Tune in at 11 am Eastern at www.ctrhotspot.com/profile/SmartWomenTalkRadio and click the Listen Live Tab. Enjoy!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Check out my radio interview on Tell Me Your Story with host Richard Dugan this Saturday, September 3, at 6 pm (Eastern), 3 pm (Pacific). Listen live on KZSB AM 1290 in Santa Barbara, CA, or over the internet at richarddugan.com. We'll talk about the 10 best conscious creation-related films of the past decade (see my previous blog, The Decade's Top 10 below). Tune in and enjoy!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Whenever we're lost, it helps tremendously to have a guide to point the way out of our troubles. Such is the case with a middle-aged lost soul in the metaphysical drama, "The Wayshower," the subject of my latest VividLife review, 'The Wayshower' leads viewers down new paths. Check it out by clicking here.

Monday, August 29, 2011

The past decade has seen the release of many excellent films with conscious creation-related themes. They’ve addressed the subject from virtually every angle, too, much the same way as the films do in my book Get the Picture: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies. So, with that in mind, I decided to come up with a Top 10 list of films for the past decade that best depict different aspects of conscious creation at work.

Making the choices wasn’t easy; as I said, there have been many noteworthy releases over the past 10 years. So I looked to find the best examples from that time that most effectively illustrate the core principles that go into making conscious creation work.

I’ve presented brief synopses of my choices (in chronological order of release) below. But, for a more thorough discussion of these pictures and the subject in general, tune in for a radio interview with yours truly this Saturday, September 3, when I’ll be a guest on Tell Me Your Story, with host Richard Dugan. This is the second time I’ve appeared on Richard’s show, and I welcomed the opportunity for a repeat visit. He’s a wonderful host, so I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as I do appearing on it.

The show airs at 6:00 pm (Eastern), 3:00 p.m. (Pacific), on KZSB Radio, AM 1290, Santa Barbara, CA. Locals can listen to the broadcast edition, while others can tune in live on the internet at www.richarddugan.com or at www.newspress.com/Top/index.jsp (click on the News-Press 1290 Listen Now tab).

7. “Stranger Than Fiction.” What happens when a novelist meets one of her fictional characters in physical form? And what if creation and creator are at odds with one another about the creation’s fate? Whose reality is it anyway? A hilarious look at the nature of existence and what drives its materialization. (2006; Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman; Marc Forster, director; Zack Helm, screenplay; 1 Golden Globe nomination; www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/strangerthanfiction/)

8. “Doubt.” Four characters, four views of reality, four different “truths.” But which one is “right”? According to conscious creation, if we each create our own reality, each is equally valid, a notion explored in this gripping drama about a priest under suspicion of indiscretions in a New York parish in the early 1960s. Riveting performances and a thoughtful script captivate viewers from start to finish. (2008; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Joseph Foster; John Patrick Shanley, director; John Patrick Shanley, screenplay; John Patrick Shanley, play; 5 Oscar nominations, 5 Golden Globe nominations; www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/)

9. “Avatar.” This epic science fiction fantasy about an off-world native people struggling against those who would exploit their planet offers much more than beautiful images, amazing special effects and terrific action sequences. It also delivers great insights into a wealth of conscious creation concepts, including the true source of our creative capabilities and the inherent connectedness of all things. A flat-out winner on all fronts. (2009; Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso; James Cameron, director; James Cameron, screenplay; 3 Oscar wins on 9 nominations, 2 Golden Globe wins (including best dramatic picture) on 4 nominations; www.avatarmovie.com/) (See my complete review at http://vividlife.me/ultimate/2835/living-in-harmony/.)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

When is persistence an asset, and when is it a liability? What's the difference between noble perseverance and blind obsession? When are those differences obvious, and when are they not? And what do we do when we find ourselves in such murky situations? Such is the nature of The Persistence Paradox, the subject of my latest post on FengSHe (www.FengSHe.org). And while you're there, be sure to check out all of the site's other posts about Persistence, FengSHe's theme for August.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

How often do we get a chance to literally come face to face with our true selves? And what impact would that have on us? Those are some of the heady questions raised in the new sci-fi fantasy, "Another Earth." Check out my review of this intriguing new film, 'Another Earth' brings us face to face with ourselves, at VividLife (www.VividLife.me) by clicking here.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Psychic research is filled with anecdotal evidence, but quantified results have been harder to come by -- until now, as depicted in the DVD documentary Something Unknown Is Doing We Don't Know What. Check out my VividLife review of it, Unlocking the Mysteries of 'Something Unknown', by clicking here.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

As I noted several months back, I'm pleased to be a presenter at this year's Colorado Seth Conference, scheduled for September 21-25 at the Embassy Suites Denver Southeast, Denver, CO. I'll be shifting gears a bit at this year's conference, however. Instead of my usual topic, conscious creation and the movies, I'll be discussing another subject that fascinates me -- reincarnation, specifically as viewed through a conscious creation perspective.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I'm pleased to announce that my writings on movies and metaphysics are now being featured in the Blogs section of the LIFEChanges Network (www.lifechangesnetwork.com). This wonderful web resource is home to a variety of features for connecting like-minded metaphysical seekers, including audio, video, photos, blogs, groups and access to LIFEChanges Radio with host Filippo Voltaggio. And, while you're there, be sure to check out my interview with Filippo in the radio show archives; click on the broadcast for February 21, 2011. Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been named one of this month's Featured Authors on the web site VividLife, available at www.VividLife.me. Visit the site's home page, and click on my photo on the Featured Authors window. You'll then be transferred to a library of my writings for the site, including current and past reviews of films from a conscious creation perspective. Enjoy!

Ever try to help someone when you're not up to it? Not happy with the results, either, were you? That's what happens when our resources get depleted, which is why it's so important to bolster ourselves. Read more about that in my latest FengSHe post, Operating From a Position of Personal Strength, available at www.FengSHe.org.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

It's with great pleasure that I launch this new blog in connection with the launch of my new web site, www.BrentMarchant.com. I welcome your feedback and suggestions on what you like, what you dislike and how this blog can be improved to better suit your needs. And I truly hope you enjoy what I have to say!

So what will you find here? I'll present a variety of posts, including news flashes on what I'm up to (most of which you'll be able to find on the new web site as well), along with entries exploring my insights into the worlds of movies and conscious creation, especially where the two overlap. Look for thought pieces, reviews and other offerings related to the foregoing. And, along the way, I hope to make you laugh, touch your heart, and provide you with enlightening and entertaining food for thought.

Please note that these blogs won't be replacing my contributions to the other web sites I write for, VividLife (www.VividLife.me), to which I submit reviews of current films from a conscious creation perspective, and FengSHe (www.FengSHe.org), for which I write essays on using conscious creation to promote balance in one's life. My original blog, available at www.getthepicturebrentmarchant.blogspot.com, will still be accessible for viewing, too, though I will no longer be posting new entries to that page. Links to all of the foregoing, as well as to other sites of interest, are available on the list of recommended sites on this page.

If you'd like to offer your feedback on the entries on this page, please post a comment below or email me at info@brentmarchant.com. I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy what you're reading. And, as always, happy viewing!

About Me

As a lifelong movie fan and longtime student of metaphysics (with an emphasis on conscious creation/law of attraction principles), I’m the author of "Third Real: Conscious Creation Goes Back to the Movies," "Consciously Created Cinema: The Movie Lover's Guide to the Law of Attraction" and the award-winning "Get the Picture?!: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies." In addition, I'm Movie Correspondent for The Good Media Network, providing monthly review segments to its Frankiesense & More show and weekly Movies with Meaning posts to the network's web site. My additional writings include contributions to Smart Women's Empowerment, New Consciousness Review, The HAPI Guide, Library Journal, New Age News, BeliefNet, VividLife and Master Heart Magazine. Hear my additional radio reports on Bring Me 2 Life's twice-monthly Cinema Scribe segments and on New Consciousness Review radio's quarterly Reviewers Roundtable.